Eating Disorder Treatment in Switzerland

CorSwiss organizes the treatment of eating disorders at one of the world's best rehabilitation centers, Kusnacht Practice. The exceptionally high level of medical staff expertise, the use of modern treatment methods, and exclusive living conditions make this clinic truly unique.

We place a primary emphasis on biochemistry restoration. It is impossible to control eating disorders if the underlying cause is a deficiency in certain neurochemical substances. Today, this is often the missing link in most treatment programs.

Without restoring neurochemical balance, most patients, when leaving treatment centers, almost immediately relapse due to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and cravings for their previous behaviors. We work on addressing the primary psychological causes of the disorder.

We help our clients work through a 12-step program and facilitate their involvement in support groups.

Treatment programmes

A family programme, which provides an individual treatment plan for each family member, may include treatment for one or more family members who receive their treatment programme for some or all of the client's treatment period.

An intensive aftercare program for the client and their family (when necessary) involves daily phone calls during the critical initial period, monthly client visits to the clinic, and subsequent quarterly visits by clinic staff during the first year, gradually reducing the frequency of visits by the end of the second year.

Destructive survival strategy

Once an eating disorder becomes a "survival strategy," it can take on a life of its own, creating a continuous cycle of anxiety and isolation. As the cycle progresses, there's a need to increase the frequency of the same behaviors to achieve the desired effect – more restrictions, more food, more overeating, more purging, more diet pills, excessive exercise, and so on.

When a client desires to recover from an eating disorder, they may face challenges in organizing their daily life, as the whole world may seem turned upside down to them. Working with each client individually, specialists at the Kusnacht Practice clinic teach them how to stabilize and rebuild their lifestyles.

Treating eating disorders at the early stages is crucial for successful recovery and for preventing irreversible physical and emotional consequences.

Early intervention is important. Our first step in treating eating disorders is to stop such behavior. During the treatment, we use psychotherapeutic methods to understand why our clients resort to disordered eating as an adaptive strategy.

We treat the whole person: body, mind and soul

1. Our main goal is to identify and treat the underlying causes of addiction, including physical, psychological, biochemical, and social factors.
2. Upon arrival, we direct our clients to our partner clinic (Mannedorf Hospital), where they are under the care of our chief physicians and clinical directors for 2 to 7 days to safely detoxify from the substances they have been using. We ensure that clients do not experience seizures or discomfort related to withdrawal symptoms.
3. During their hospitalization, clients undergo a comprehensive medical examination, including all necessary biochemical tests and psychiatric assessments. At the same time, an addiction specialist conducts consultations related to physical dependence, provides their assessment, and our orthomolecular medicine specialist conducts biochemical testing and assesses the client's lifestyle.
4. Based on the results of these examinations, we develop a detailed treatment plan, which typically takes 1 to 3 months.
5. Following this, you are accommodated in luxurious apartments or another agreed-upon place of residence, where you will be the sole client.
6. The treatment for the underlying causes of drug addiction involves developing an individual composition of essential nutrients and amino acids to normalize any identified deficiencies, determined through biochemistry and neurochemistry analysis.
7. Medications are prescribed only as a last resort when the symptoms are severe and do not respond to biochemical restoration and other forms of therapy. Our goal is to cleanse the patients' bodies of drugs and, equally importantly, without their side effects.
8. When possible, we invite the most important members of the client's family to participate in a 2-day family therapy program during their treatment. While this is not mandatory, we strongly recommend it. Family members learn more about the disorders affecting their loved ones. This therapy can lead to family members deciding to seek treatment for their own issues related to dysfunctional behavior and pain.
9. Post-treatment support is crucial for long-term recovery. While it is relatively easy for clients to remain abstinent in a clinical setting, they need to stay abstinent and continue their recovery after returning home. To address this challenge, we have a post-treatment support program that may include the work of a mentor or psychotherapist who returns home with the client to support their reintegration into their normal home environment, family, work, school, and friends. Additionally, the psychotherapist helps the client adapt their lifestyle to the recovery program. Other elements of the program may involve daily phone or Skype calls during the initial critical period, visits to the Kusnacht clinic (or home visits by one of our medical team members) initially on a monthly basis, and later on a quarterly basis during the first year, gradually reducing in frequency by the end of the second year. Post-treatment support can last from a few days to two years, and when combined with 12-Step support groups, significantly increases the likelihood of long-term recovery.

Individualized Approach:

To meet the specific needs of each client, the Cusnacht Clinic provides a personalised approach to treatment. We only treat clients individually and not in groups, meaning that our entire clinical team (comprising doctors, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors and nutritionists) and our complementary therapy team (including yoga, acupuncture, reflexology, massage therapists and personal trainers) only work with one client and their family.

We look deep into the symptoms to understand the function of addictive behaviour in the client's life. Once we identify the underlying causes of our client's disorder, we treat them using evidence-based interventions.

Unique and effective approach

We work with clients to help them regain control over their symptoms, recover from trauma, and develop the necessary skills to break free from addictive behavior and thinking in their daily lives. We use medication only as a last resort. Treatment may include some or all of the following components:

1. Detoxification aims to rid the body of toxins that have accumulated from the environment, food, water, and medications. To achieve this goal, various methods are employed, all under medical supervision.
2. Laboratory analyses are conducted to determine the biochemical and neurochemical imbalances of each client. Based on these results, we generate a computer-generated formula of micronutrients and amino acids to restore the biochemical and neurochemical balance. This formula is as unique as the client's fingerprints. The laboratory data is also used to determine the menu prepared by the client's personal chef to maximize the restoration of biochemical and neurochemical processes.
3. Psychotherapy is used to identify and treat the underlying psychological issues that led to addiction and other mental, personality, social, or family problems identified in the treatment plan. Psychotherapy may include:

• Cognitive treatment methods
• Clinical hypnotherapy/trance work
• Mindfulness practice
• Somatic experiences
• EMDR to remove triggers and stressors
• Positive psychology
• Family therapy

4. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) - the use of magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to alleviate symptoms of depression.
5. My Brain SolutionsTM Therapy - scientifically developed computer exercises aimed at improving attention, memory, flexibility, reducing stress, and promoting positivity.
6. Additional treatment methods include:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Individual training
• Acupuncture
• Art and music therapy
• Reflexology
• Massage
• Satori chair sessions
• Alpha-Stim sessions for pain reduction, anxiety, depression, or insomnia
• Use of the SPA at the Dolder Grand Hotel

7. Diet and Lifestyle Tips
8. An intensive psycho-educational program, including readings on relevant topics for each client and family member participating in the treatment program.
9. Completing some or all steps of the 12-Step program.
10. Attending group support meetings.
11. Spiritual counseling.
12. Two-day Family Therapy program.
13. Providing an intensive program of post-treatment support for the client and their family, which often includes a mentor returning home with the client to help them adjust to their new life.

Treatment of Nervosa

Sufferers of anorexia nervosa usually have an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of their appearance. They often see themselves as overweight, even if they are already dangerously underweight. This causes them to go to extreme measures to prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight. The disorder is most often found in girls and young women, although men and women of any age can be affected. It is especially dangerous for children and young adults, as it can affect their growth process. In addition to the physical harm that anorexia nervosa can cause, it can also be accompanied by mood changes, depression, anxiety, urge disorder, substance abuse and self-harm, including suicide.

Eating disorder treatment aims to stop these behaviours. In the treatment process, we use psychotherapeutic methods to find out why our client resorts to disordered eating behaviour as an adaptation strategy.

We place a primary emphasis on biochemical restoration. It is impossible to control an eating disorder if a deficiency of certain neurochemical substances is the root cause of the condition. This is often a missing link in many treatment programs. If the neurochemical balance is not restored, most patients, upon leaving treatment centers, are at high risk of relapse due to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and the desire to revert to previous behaviors.

Next, with DPDH and other psychotherapeutic approaches, we work on the underlying psychological causes of the illness.

Self-work and complementary therapies we use to reduce stress and keep it low include self-hypnosis, DPDH butterfly technique, clinical monitoring, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, reflexology, massage and aromatherapy.

We help our clients work through a 12-step program and facilitate their involvement in support groups.

A family programme, which provides an individual treatment plan for each family member, may include treatment for one or more family members who receive their treatment programme for some or all of the client's treatment period.

An intensive aftercare program for the client and their family (when necessary) involves daily phone calls during the critical initial period, monthly client visits to the clinic, and subsequent quarterly visits by clinic staff during the first year, gradually reducing the frequency of visits by the end of the second year.

Treatment of Binge Eating

People who suffer from overeating have constant cravings for self-satiety and are unable to control their excessive eating. Their feelings of hopelessness and helplessness are usually related to low self-esteem, emotional problems or stress. Their despair, shame and guilt often intensify as they gain weight, the cycle of self-destruction continues. In addition to the physical harm that overeating can cause, it is also often accompanied by pathological mood swings.

It is important to recognise that overeating nerves develop from a combination of physical, psychological, biochemical, genetic and social factors. Our goal is to identify the underlying causes of addiction and restore healthy self-image and coping mechanisms so that our clients can lead normal lives.

Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa

Unlike those suffering from anorexia, individuals with bulimia often maintain a normal body weight. However, their distorted self-perception and strong fear of gaining weight mean that these two serious eating disorders share many similarities.

People with bulimia view weight control as a mechanism to cope with deep emotional issues, and their self-worth is closely tied to their weight and shape. Many of them experience a "high" from avoiding food and become addicted to the chemicals released in the brain during starvation and physical exercise. They often exhibit a chemical imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitters responsible for regulating appetite and food cravings. In addition to the physical harm that disordered eating can cause, it is frequently accompanied by mood swings.

It is important to recognize that bulimia nervosa develops from a combination of physical, psychological, biochemical, genetic, and social factors. Our goal is to identify the underlying causes of the dependency and restore healthy self-perception and coping mechanisms to help our clients lead normal lives.

To achieve this goal, we treat the whole person: body, mind, and soul. We use comprehensive laboratory tests to determine physical, biochemical, and neurochemical imbalances. We believe that clients have a limited chance of recovery until their neurochemistry functions properly. We conduct psychological and other assessments to understand why our clients adopted disordered eating as an adaptive strategy and to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Treatment of Compulsive Overeating

People who suffer from compulsive overeating disorder have essentially lost control over their eating. They often fall into uncontrollable binge eating or, conversely, eat virtually nothing throughout the day. They use their unnatural approach to eating as a coping mechanism to overcome psychological difficulties and release their feelings.

Most sufferers of this disorder are aware that they are acting unnaturally, yet they are unable to stop or control their behaviour. This realisation can have a negative impact on their low self-esteem, emotional problems or stress, which may have contributed to the development of the disorder in the first place. In addition to the physical harm that compulsive overeating does to the body, it is also often accompanied by mood swings.